Indigenous Land Rights Strengthen Forest Protection

Colombia granted legal titles to more than 521,000 hectares of Amazon land to Indigenous communities in 2026, strengthening forest stewardship and climate protection efforts.

“Indigenous communities are conserving, and what exists in our territory benefits everyone,” said Gabriel Cabrera, legal representative of the Ticuna, Cocama and Yagua-Ticoya reserve.

The titles provide legal security to 12,792 families from 11 Indigenous peoples across five regions, expanding or creating reserves in key forest corridors. Colombia reported 113,608 hectares of deforestation in 2024. Still, early 2025 estimates show losses falling by about 25% year-on-year, reinforcing the strategy of recognising Indigenous governance as a tool to protect biodiversity and reduce emissions over the long term.